[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMERICAN CITY QUALITY MONTH

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize April as the 
22nd Annual National American City Quality Month. Led by the National 
League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, American City Planning 
Directors' Council/American City Quality Foundation, Urban Land 
Institute, City Planning and Management Division of the American 
Planning Association, International City/County Management Association, 
American Public Transportation Association, American Society of 
Landscape Architects and others, this valuable program brings together 
a wide range of public and private partners. Their efforts demonstrate 
what it takes to plan and develop better quality communities addressing 
vital issues including land use, building design, transportation, 
housing, parks and recreation, energy efficiency, economic development, 
environmental protection, sustainability and livability.
  City planners across my State of Maine and throughout the Nation are 
calling on public and private sector leaders to commit to preparing, 
adopting and implementing a nationwide better quality communities plan 
that will lead to better planning, redevelopment and development of our 
Nation's cities and surrounding regions. This is essential to 
accommodate U.S. Census projected population growth of about 30 million 
by the year 2020 and 100 million within 30 to 40 years. This is the 
equivalent of building eleven cities the size of Chicago. Also, it will 
help to create jobs, stop urban sprawl, guide billions of dollars of 
investment to improve communities while lowering governmental operating 
expenses and taxes.
  This public-private partnership is necessary to meet the growing need 
for higher quality, more energy efficient and sustainable housing, 
buildings, public transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, and 
industry. All citizens are urged to get involved by contacting their 
community planners. I applaud these collaborative efforts to improve 
urban and rural communities across our Nation.
  This collaborative planning works. Just last year, Forbes Magazine 
named Portland, ME, my State's largest city, as the most livable city 
in America. In addition, Portland's busy Commercial Street was voted as 
one of the country's great streets by the American Planning 
Association. The transformation of Portland did not happen by accident. 
It is the result of citizens and organizations working together. 
American City Quality Month celebrates this effort. This year our 
Governor, John Baldacci, proclaimed April as American City Quality 
Month. Other Governors and officials are invited to do the same.

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